LIQUOR LEGISLATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 178, 30 July 1903, Page 2

LIQUOR LEGISLATION.

A PRO-LICENSE DEPUTATION,

PBB PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, July 29. A deputation representativa of the lquor trade, and numbering between two and three hundred, waited on the Hon. the Premier this afternoon. They urged legislation should be introduced this session to amend the licensing I laws in the following direction(a) National option in place of any other form of option, to be taken once in each nine years, and to be carried by threefifths c f the number of persons on the rolls; (b) the elimination of the reduction issue, and failing national option, increasing the interval between the palls; (o) payment of compensation; (d) discretionary power to Magistrates in the indorsement of licenses; (e) making 11 o'clock the statuory closing hour for the- colony; (f) bringing clubs and railway refreshment rooms under the provisions of the licensing laws; (g) providing that no lapsed licenses be renewed for the purpose of removal; (h) making it penal for persons to have alcoholic liquor in their possession in prohibited districts; (i) substituting a bench of Stipendiary Magistrates tor the present elective committees. The deputation also protested against the provisions of sections 12 and 13 in the Shops and Offices Bill 1903.

In replying Mr Seddon said if any legislation were introduced he would take it for granted that clubs would ba brought under the Licensing Act. He was not in favour of curtailing the will of people by fixing nine years for the local option poll. He did uofc think there was the slightest chance of the legislature alteing the term from three years or substituting national for local option. He believed, however, the feeling was growing throughout the colony that at any rate for one general election thn people should have a rest. With regard to compensation he thought in cases in which licensees had been ordered to rebuild and shortly afterwards had lost thair licenses, something should be done. He entirely agreed with discretionary powers being given to ! magistrates in regard to endorsements. If things remained as at present, and licansing .committees pursued a non judicial course as had been done in Ounedin, there would be a revulsion of feeing against elective committees and in favour of tha sole decision being by a magistrate. He was of opinion that where no license was carried no liquor should be manufactured or sold or imported into that district. The whole of the matters brought under his notice would have the careful consideration of Cabinet.